Singapore Growth Outlook Brightens for 2025 as Economists Flag AI and Geopolitical Risks 
Asian Fund Managers Turn More Optimistic on Growth but Curb Equity Return Expectations: BofA Survey 
Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns 
Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision 
BoE Set to Cut Rates as UK Inflation Slows, but Further Easing Likely Limited 
Chinese Robotaxi Stocks Rally as Tesla Boosts Autonomous Driving Optimism 
Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
EU Approves €90 Billion Ukraine Aid as Frozen Russian Asset Plan Stalls 
BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization 
Manufacturing sales volumes in New Zealand rose during the June-quarter by 1 percent q/q after two-quarters of declines. There were strong gains in meat and dairy volumes, as well as other food and beverages. However, there were declines in most of the non-food categories, including a reversal of the sharp jump in transport and machinery that had boosted the March quarter.
Stripping out the meat and dairy impact, ‘core’ sales volumes fell 0.2 percent q/q, after a lift of 1.5 percent q/q in Q1. Of the 12 core industries, seven recorded higher sales volumes, while five experienced falls. Petroleum and coal product manufacturing (-10.4 percent q/q) and chemical, polymer and rubber product manufacturing (-7.9 percent q/q) were the biggest drags (reversing opposite moves in Q1).
"Nonetheless it reinforces further downside risk to our Q2 GDP expectations (currently +1.0 percent q/q). We already saw downside risk following the softer-than-expected building work data earlier in the week. Today’s figures add to that," ANZ Research commented in its latest report.
Meanwhile, FxWirePro launches Absolute Return Managed Program. For more details, visit http://www.fxwirepro.com/invest
